Interested students should see their guidance counselors for application forms

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  Individual learning experiences not included in the existing curriculum
  
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  Development of individual responsibility and self-discipline
  
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  Development of individual interests
  
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  Pupil-structured learning experience
  
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  Individual creativity
  
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  Career exploration
  
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  Interdisciplinary learning
  
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  Development of inquiry skills
  

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  Open to all 11th and 12th grade students;
  
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  Major consideration for selection will be past performance and good academic standing at the time of application;
  
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  Final decisions on approval of IS applications will be made by a committee consisting of the applicant’s counselor, the faculty advisor, the Superintendent, or designee on the subject area, and the building principal;
  
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  The applicant, in addition to a written application must make an oral application presentation to this committee before any final decision is made.
  

Board of Education approval will be sought during the summer regularly scheduled meeting.

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  Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) – October (does not qualify the student for NMSQT)
  
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  End of Course Biology Competency Test (NJBCT) – May
  

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  Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) – October (does not qualify the student for NMSQT)
  

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  High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) - State required test all students must pass in order to graduate from high school
  
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  Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) – October - National Merit Qualifying Test (NMQT)
  

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  SAT – offered at Somerville High School.
  
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  SAT II – Individual subject tests in areas such as chemistry, physics, math level 1, math level 2, math level 3, and/or world language.
  
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  American College Testing (ACT) – Competitor of SAT. Popular test for southern and Midwestern colleges, but increasingly recognized by schools in the east. Students should refer to individual school’s application profile to determine the acceptability of the ACT.
  
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  Advanced Placement – Students enrolled in AP courses (Calculus, Statistics, US History, Government and Politics, English Literature, Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, European History, French and/or Spanish) are encouraged to take the AP test given in May of the year the course is taken. Enrollment in an AP course is not required to take an AP test. Successful performance on the test may earn college credit for the student.
  

1. 
   To make up a subject failed in regular school session:
   

1. 
   A student must receive approval from the Guidance Office before enrolling in summer school. An approved list of summer school programs is located in the Guidance Office and on the school website.
   
2. 
   Five credits for a subject repeated and passed in summer school will be granted if the course has a minimum of 60 clock hours.
   
3. 
   The grade earned in summer school will be recorded on the permanent record and will be included in class ranking; the original grade remains on the transcript and is also included in the ranking process.
   
4. 
   It is the student’s responsibility to have appropriate grade reports forwarded to the Guidance Office upon completion of the summer school course.
   

2. 
   Courses to be taken for acceleration: (for the student who wishes to earn credits outside of our school offerings for personal advancement)
   

1. 
   A student must receive the approval of the high school principal before selecting a subject or enrolling in a summer school.
   
2. 
   The student must take 120 clock hours for a full year’s credit.
   
3. 
   Pursuance and completion of courses taken for acceleration does not guarantee eligibility for graduation or receipt of a diploma in less than four years.
   
4. 
   It is the student’s responsibility to have appropriate grade reports forwarded to the Guidance Office upon completion of the summer school course; however, the grade will not be computed in class rank.
   

3. 
   Course to be taken for enrichment or depth:
   

1. 
   These courses are usually taken by the student for personal improvement and for greater knowledge and experience and are not listed on the transcript.
   
2. 
   No credit points will be awarded for these courses.
   

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  Personal illness (health care provider documentation),
  
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  Professional appointments that cannot be scheduled during non-school hours (health care provider documentation),
  
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  Somerville High School curricular/co-curricular activities held during the school day or requiring early dismissal,
  
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  Court appearance (court notice to appear),
  
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  Driver’s test (appointment card or license documentation),
  
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  Death in the immediate family: parent, grandparent, sister, brother, aunt, uncle (maximum five days),
  
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  New Jersey state approved religious holidays pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14,
  
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  College visitations; juniors and seniors only maximum 3 days (documented by a statement from the admissions office),
  
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  Quarantines or uncoverable and/or weeping skin lesions,
  
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  Suspension from school,
  
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  Serious personal or family problems upon approval of administrator in charge of attendance, and
  
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  An absence for a reason not listed above, but deemed excused by the administrator in charge of attendance.
  

*Parent/guardian notes and official documentation must be received in the main office within 72 hours of the student returning to school.

Though a student may be absent with parental approval for reasons other than those listed above, the absence will be defined as “unexcused” to conform to state regulations requiring school districts to define “excused” and “unexcused” absences. It is also recognized that the parents/guardians may not always take their child to the doctor every time he/she is sick. The district assumes that the “unexcused” absences will be used when it is necessary to miss school and documentation can not be provided. “Unexcused” absences are not considered truancy unless the student is absent without parental consent.

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  Leaves school without permission when school is still in session,
  
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  Leaves school at lunch and does not return without the permission of the school nurse/administrator,
  
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  Leaves class because of illness and does not report to the school nurse, or
  
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  Is present in school but is absent from class without approval. Such truancy from class is a “class cut.”
  

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  Employment other than school-approved work assignments,
  
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  Family travel/vacation,**
  
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  Performance of household or babysitting duties, or
  
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  Travel as required as a member of an athletic team not part of the Somerville High School athletics program (these are not considered college visitations).
  

** A parent or guardian taking a student out of school for vacations during the normal course of the school year is an illegal absence pursuant to New Jersey Statutes Annotated (NJSA) 8A:36-16 and New Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC) 6:20-1.3. These statutes state that students must be in school all the hours of all the days that school is in session. One serious impact of unauthorized absence is in the area of homework. Many parents request that the teacher give homework assignments prior to vacation, but for the teacher to do so puts the teacher and the school district in a position of condoning the leave from school. Therefore, if a student chooses to be absent from school, any work that is missed must be completed by the student after he/she returns to school.

A student who is in danger of losing course credit due to exceeding the attendance policy must remain in the class to receive a grade of “incomplete.” If the student does not remain in the class the student will not be allowed to make up the course in summer school.

1. 
   Parents are required to call the attendance office (243-1547) by 8:15 a.m. if the student is going to be absent from school. Without this notification the attendance officer, Mr. O’Donnell, will telephone the home of any student absent from school.
   

2. 
   Parents of students who are on the Chronic Illness List must telephone the school nurse each day the student is absent/late due to the chronic condition and the nurse will relay that information to the attendance officer. Failure to do so will result in the absence being recorded as unrelated to the chronic condition.
   

3. 
   A parent/guardian who anticipates a future absence because of an illness of five (5) days or more must notify the administrator in charge of attendance so that home instruction can be arranged through the Guidance Office. If the absence due to illness is short term, fewer than five (5) days, the student’s teachers will provide homework. The parent/guardian must contact the Guidance Office to request assignments.
   

4. 
   Any lengthy absence, 10 days or more, the student must withdraw from school.
   

1. 
   Upon returning to school, students are to complete a “pink slip” in homeroom stating the date(s) and reasons for their absence(s) from school. The pink slip, parent note, and official documentation (necessary for the absence(s) to be excused) must be given to the homeroom teacher for submission to the main office.
   

2. 
   Upon returning to school, students must arrange with their teachers to make up any assignments or assessments missed during the absence from school. Work must be made up within a time equal to the time absent. Responsibility for making up work and scheduling any necessary assistance from the teacher(s) rests with the student.
   

1. 
   When a student has four (4) “unexcused” absences in a full year course the parent/guardian will receive a notification letter and a copy will be sent to the guidance counselor for follow-up.
   

2. 
   When a student has seven (7) “unexcused” absences in a full year course the parent/guardian will receive a certified letter indicating the number of absences. A copy of the letter will be sent to the guidance counselor for follow-up. The administrator in charge of attendance will conduct an investigation into the reasons for the “unexcused” absences. It may be necessary for the parents/guardians to meet with the administrator to develop an action plan to assist the student in maintaining regular school attendance. Action plans may include:
   

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  Referral to the Intervention and Referral services team (I&RS), pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-8;
  
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  Testing, assessments, or evaluations of the student’s academic, behavioral, and health needs;
  
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  Consideration of an alternate placement;
  
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  Referral to a community-based social and health care provider agency or other community resources;
  
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  Referral to the court program designated by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts; and/or
  
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  Referral to the Division of Youth and Family Services in accordance with the provisions of the N.J.S.A.9:6 et. Seq. and N.J.A.C.6A:16-11, if a potentially missing or child abuse situation is detected.
  

3. 
   When a student has ten (10) “unexcused” absences in a full year course the parent/guardian will receive a certified letter indicating the number of absences. The administrator will investigate the reasons for the absences and may require the parents/guardians to meet with the administrator to adjust the action plan developed as outlined in #2 above to assist the student in maintaining regular school attendance.
   

4. 
   When a student exceeds ten (10) “unexcused” absences in a full year course the parents/guardians will receive a certified letter notifying them that their child has exceeded the attendance policy in “unexcused” absences. An Attendance Appeal petition will be enclosed with this letter for the student and/or parents/guardians to complete if they feel there are extenuating circumstances that have prevented the student from attending school on a regular basis.
   

Course Title	Prerequisite Requirements	Credits Earned
The 3-D Experience	None	5

Course Title	Prerequisite Requirements	Credits Earned
Exploring Art	None	5

Course Title	Prerequisite Requirements	Credits Earned
Communication Design	None	5